John J RUCANO

24 JUN 1924 - 18 SEP 2011

• BIRTH: 24 JUN 1924, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 18 SEP 2011, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 28 SEP 1946, Sacred Heart Belgian, St Joseph County, IN

INDEX

[N18998] John J. Rucano

Birth 24 Jun 1924
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN

Death 18 Sep 2011 (aged 87)
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN

Burial
Highland Cemetery
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA
Memorial ID 76856216 ·
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John J. Rucano
June 24, 1924 - Sept. 18, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Mr. John Joseph Rucano, 87, of South Bend, passed away Sunday morning at Cardinal Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center from complications after a two and a half year battle with Leukemia. Mr. Rucano was born in South Bend on June 24, 1924, to the late Pasquale and Angelina (Nesci) Rucano. On September 28, 1946, John married the former Louise F. Steenbeke in Sacred Heart Belgian Catholic Church on Thomas Street in South Bend. He graduated from South Bend Central High School and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WW II, where he was a Navigator/Bombardier. He retired in 1987 after 30 years with the Bendix Corporation where he worked as an Aerospace Experimental Technician. He had previously worked at Studebaker's. John was a faithful member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church; he was a founding member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus John Carroll Council #5570; he was a prior member and Financial Secretary of the Notre Dame Council #1477, a Sir Knight of Fourth Degree Fr. J.A. Neuwland Assembly #242, and Past President of Corvilla, which means "House with a Heart", a name he created. A very intelligent, humble, modest, and deeply religious man, he touched many lives with his warmth, wisdom and advice. Among other things, John was widely known for his famous spaghetti sauce that he would make for almost any school or Catholic fundraiser. He was a great vegetable gardener and an inspiration to all who knew him. John knew about Saturday's Notre Dame football victory and was very happy. He loved all ND sports but especially football and basketball. In 1972, John was named "Outstanding Catholic Layman" by the K of C. John is survived by his wife, Louise F. Rucano of South Bend; and three children, John J. Jr. (the late Cheryl) Rucano of South Bend, Eileen A. Rucano of Dayton and Rozanne M. Rucano of South Bend; a sister, Rose Van de Walle of South Bend; a brother, Richard (Rita) Rucano of Granger, IN; five grandchildren, Keith R. Boroczk, of Dayton, OH, Lisa M. (Andrew) Brown of Anchorage, AK, Andrea (Tim) Whittaker of Indianapolis, IN, Gina (Eric) Nichols of South Bend and John J. Rucano III of South Bend; four great-grandchildren, Haley & Tyler Nichols of South Bend and Alyssa & Kaitlyn Brown of Anchorage; and mother-in-law, Marie Steenbeke. John's family would like to thank Dr. Jose Bufill, Jen Ewing, and the staff at Michiana Hematology & Oncology and Dr. Larson and his Oncology Team at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Visitation will be today from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the McGann Hay Funeral Homes, University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road near Ironwood, where the Holy Rosary will be prayed by the K of C and Parish at 3:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Rev. Daryl Rybicki, pastor, officiating. Graveside services and burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Corpus Christi Parish, 2822 Corpus Christi Drive, South Bend, IN 46628. To send condolences to the family, log on to: www.mcgannhay.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune on September 21, 2011